Social Good

5 initial ways you can be a better ally to people of color

Communities of color continue to fight every day against racism, and heal from the effects it has had on their lives. Great allies can support them, however, and help dismantle the ways in which our institutions and culture are deeply rooted in oppression.

In the traditional sense, allies are partners with equal resources who choose to work in tandem for mutual benefit. But when it comes to racial justice, this definition cannot stand — communities of color do not have equal resources, and white allies will not gain the same benefits.

As a result, it can be difficult to figure out how to be the best ally you can be.

While the decision to use your privilege for good is the right thing to do, it's simply not enough. Here are five ways you can be useful and effective as an ally, rather than just wearing the title.

1. Be willing to listen and learn.

attention white allies: do not become enraged when called out on racism. engage in a conversation to prevent future incidents. — mami (@heycherellle) December 28, 2015

In order to be an effective ally, it's necessary to understand the experiences of those you want to support. The best way to reach that understanding is to be a good listener.

When people of color voice concerns, vent about issues they face or discuss oppression, you should be taking notes. These concerns and issues are often a result of actions by people who look like you, so it can be easy to get defensive — "not all white people," etc. But the more challenging thing to do is to understand that these concerns are not a personal attack, and trust the experiences of those who are oppressed.

If a person of color trusts you enough to share how racism and prejudice affects them, take it as an opportunity to learn rather than prove your innocence. If you reach out as an ally, you're already moving in the right direction.

As an ally to people of color, it's important to use your own privilege to assist in efforts toward equality. It's great for white people to help organize protests and create safe spaces for people of color, but not when when white voices are centered and elevated over communities of color.

An ally's role is never to speak for others, but to take down the obstacles facing the oppressed to allow them to speak for themselves. One example is to act as a barrier for the more vulnerable people of color at demonstrations and protests, like in the Instagram photo above.

White privilege can be a powerful tool of allyship or oppression — be mindful of how you put your own to use.

3. Do your research.

Because, regardless of what white folks think, it is not the job of black folks to teach you about racism and why it's wrong.— Molly (@mollyrosestl) May 2, 2015

You can't be an effective ally if you don't know what the issues are. And you can't help deconstruct institutional racism without first understanding how it is built.

Many allies resort to asking people of color to explain racism and oppression — while often well-intentioned, this places a burden on the very communities you're aiming to assist. Go one step further and teach yourself, so you can educate other allies and relieve people of color of that labor.

4. Resist the "white savior" complex.

When offering help, don't ask "How can I help you?" Ask 1st "Do you need help?" then "What kind of help do you need?"— FJ (@FeministaJones) August 10, 2015

As an ally, your role is not to "fix" communities of color. It is not your job to swoop down and take action on their behalf without knowing what the community needs to begin with. It might be easy to succumb to the desire to do things that seem good for others because they make you feel good, but it's important to resist that urge and reexamine how to help.

Telling a person of color how to deal with oppression may seem like a helpful idea, but in reality, it's harmful. Offering advice implies that the onus is on them, and assumes they have not already made efforts to overcome racial injustice.

It's better, for example, to ask, "Is there anything I can do to make you feel safer?"

5. Start in your own circle.

White allies, I hope you enter white spaces to spread awareness and accountability as often as (or more than) you enter black spaces.

White allies usually have the advantage of being able to communicate with more white people within their own circles. You have the chance to help people of color by promoting equality and racial justice in your own community.

Call out friends and family on their racism and microaggressions, even when it's uncomfortable or there are no people of color around to be offended. They'll likely be more open to listening to you, and it will give you the opportunity to effect real change.

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